Decay of polarized particle into two spinless

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Discussion Overview

The discussion focuses on the decay of a spin-1 massive vector particle into two spinless massive particles. Participants explore the implications of polarization vectors, angular momentum conservation, and the calculation of decay rates in different polarization states.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether the Sz vectors correspond to the polarization vectors and whether angular momentum or Sz is conserved in the decay process.
  • Another participant suggests that calculations can be performed using Feynman rules and emphasizes the importance of averaging over polarization states for the unpolarized cross section.
  • A follow-up inquiry seeks clarification on which polarization vector to use for Sz=1 when the axis is defined as z.
  • A later post presents a specific scenario where the decay occurs in the rest frame of the vector particle, asking to show that the decay rates for different polarization states are proportional to sin²(theta) and cos²(theta) respectively.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express uncertainty regarding the treatment of polarization vectors and the conservation laws involved. There is no consensus on the approach to take for the calculations or the implications of the decay rates.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include potential dependencies on the definitions of polarization states and assumptions about the decay frame. The discussion does not resolve the mathematical steps required for the calculations.

moss
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Hi All, I want to understand the decay of a spin-1 massive vector particle into two spinless massive particles.

Given a massive vector particle V with spin Sz = +1, 0, -1 decays into 2 massive spinless particles. I have to compute the amplitude M but I don't know what should I do with the polarization vectors?

Hence my Qs. is that, does the Sz vectors becomes the polarization vectors?
is the angular momentum and/or Sz conserve?

I am kind of al-confuso because never did any polarized photon-less decay before.
any help is much appreciated.
 
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Do you have a concrete model at hand? The calculation can be done in the usual way using Feynman rules. Usually you are interested in the unpolarized cross section, i.e., you average ##|\mathcal{M}_{fi}|^2## over the polarization states of the decaying vector particles in the initial state.
 
vanhees71 said:
Do you have a concrete model at hand? The calculation can be done in the usual way using Feynman rules. Usually you are interested in the unpolarized cross section, i.e., you average ##|\mathcal{M}_{fi}|^2## over the polarization states of the decaying vector particles in the initial state.

Thanks for the reply,
so e.g for Sz=1 what polarization vector should I use assuming the axis is z.?
 
Okay the original Qs. with V=vector particle and S1 & S2 are spinless is that;

Let V--->S1S2 in the rest frame with S1 emitted in the x-z plane at and angle theta respect to z-axis.
show that the decay rates for polarization states of V with spin Sz=+1,-1,0 along the z-direction
are proportional to sin^2(theta) and cos^2(theta) respectively.
 

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